A Potentially Sticky Issue In The Open Water
With lots of hot water and unflavored gelatin, synchronized swimmers coif their hair for their performances in the water.
The gelatin hardens as it cools and does not dissolve until the swimmer takes a hot, hot shower to wash out the hardened gelatin. The gelatin literally melts out as the synchro swimmers use a comb in the shower to brush it out.
So we wonder for those who use neoprene instead of bioprene…
Does this hardened gelatin help retain heat? Would it help a triathlete feel warmer relative to swimming as a non-gelatin head? Is it better than a bubble cap or neoprene cap? How hard would it become in water under 15°C? And at what point would it melt naturally in warm waters, 31°C?
Oh how random thoughts ran amok while swimming in the dark waters off the California coast in the early morning hours under overcast skies.
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor – Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming’s Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University’s John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
